FSU quarterback De'Andre Johnson turns himself in on notice to appear for misdemeanor battery

Garry Smits

Tuesday

Jun 30, 2015 at 5:59 PM

After a weeklong investigation and a somewhat confusing set of events Tuesday, Florida State freshman quarterback De'Andre Johnson turned himself in to the Leon County jail on a notice to appear for misdemeanor battery.

Johnson, a 19-year-old First Coast High graduate and Florida's Mr. Football last season, posted a $500 bond and was released. He is alleged by the Tallahassee Police Department to have punched a 21-year-old female FSU student on June 24 after he pushed her from behind in a drink line at Yianni's, a Tallahassee bar.

Johnson was ordered to have no contact with his accuser.

The Johnson family unleashed a legal bombshell when it revealed the hiring of Miami attorney Jose Baez, an FSU graduate who represented Casey Anthony when she was acquitted of murdering her child in 2011 after a sensational trial in Orlando.

Baez also is representing some of the victims and their families in the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo.

The state attorney's office downgraded the initial charge under investigation from felony battery after Detective Craig Isom's probe, which included video of the incident from security cameras inside the bar. The documents released to the media also contained a warrant for Johnson's arrest, which was later changed to a NTA.

Johnson was suspended indefinitely from the football team a day after the incident. Under the Florida State student code of conduct, coach Jimbo Fisher can reinstate Johnson now that the charge is a misdemeanor.

In a statement released by Baez's publicist, he said he "would investigate the accusations against Johnson thoroughly."

De'Andre Johnson's father, Earl, told the Times-Union that any statements would come through Baez.

Earl Johnson told the Times-Union on Tuesday that Benjamin Crump, another FSU graduate who is representing the families of shooting victims Trayvon Martin of Sanford and Michael Brown of Ferguson, Mo., would be involved in the case. Baez's publicist, Charles Jones, confirmed Crump's participation on Tuesday afternoon but later in the day said Crump had decided against it.

A message left for Crump at his Tallahassee office was not returned.

According to the police report, the female student was waiting in line at the bar when Johnson came from behind and began pushing her. She turned to face Johnson and raised her right arm in a gesture of self-defense. Johnson grabbed her arm and continued pushing and she then "raised her knee to the defendant's mid-section in an attempt to shove him away," according to the report.

The female, according to the report, then attempted to punch Johnson with her left hand. Johnson followed by punching her on the left side of her face. The report states that she suffered "bruising under her left eye, swelling to the left cheek and upper lip and a small cut on the bridge of her nose."

Johnson left "with associates" before police arrived. He was named by witnesses and identified by the female by a photograph.

State attorney Willie Meggs told ESPN.com that he interviewed the woman Tuesday morning and had seen the video.

"The video is very telling," Meggs told ESPN. "She is going to be a good witness."

The incident comes six months after the end of the Jameis Winston era at FSU. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback led the Seminoles to two Atlantic Coast Conference titles, the 2013 national championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff last year but was involved in one controversy after another, including accusations of rape, shoplifting, vandalism and the theft of soda at a fast-food restaurant.

Johnson had been a model student-athlete at First Coast and through his first six months as an FSU student. He enrolled last January and completed in spring practice, connecting on 8-of-11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the Garnet and Gold spring game. Johnson was still a long shot to get playing time this season, with junior Sean Maguire returning and Everett Golson transferring from Note Dame.

Johnson threw for 3,701 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior in a 12-1 season for First Coast.

Garry Smits: (904) 359-4362

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